“Here in the U.S., the language we use to discuss immigration does not recognize the realities of our lives based on conditions that we did not create and cannot control.”
In the memoir, Vargas chronicles his personal experiences as an undocumented citizen in America since he became aware of his status as a teenager. Rather than approach the account as another immigration story he chooses to offer the immigrant experience as a whole in surviving as an illegal. He imbues the notion of not generalizing the stories of immigrants, as the discourse cannot be easily simplified considering the complexities and red tape of naturalizing. Vargas paints the experience of an illegal as that filled with fear and anxiety while navigating the obliviousness of the general public on immigration. Terming himself the ‘most famous illegal’ Vargas aims to debunk the misconceptions and assumptions around immigration and undocumented citizens.
“Migration is the most natural thing people do, the root of how civilizations, nation-states, and countries were established. The difference, however, is that when white people move, then and now, it’s seen as courageous and necessary, celebrated in history books. Yet when people of color move, legally or illegally, the migration itself is subjected to question of legality.
Vargas delves into the immigration policies that make it near impossible for non-white foreigners to attain citizenship. In the quote, Vargas extends the view that nations were built through the movement of people and thus everyone has an origin. However, he attests that race impacts how such a notion is accepted by society and in creating narratives around immigration. Speaking on the current climate in the United States regarding immigration and race, Vargas affirms that the issues are more racial than they are about bureaucracy. As a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has had to navigate his career while hiding his immigration status, Vargas acknowledges the difficulties of naturalizing.
“Home is not something I should have to earn.”
The memoir focuses on the psychological homelessness that affects undocumented immigrants more than the immigration policies. Originally from the Philippines and immigrating to the United States at a young age, to Vargas, America is his home. However, as an illegal citizen, Vargas does not feel a sense of community or security while leading his daily life. He has to hide and lie to be accepted by the system of the place he calls home. Accordingly, in the quote, he highlights that the whole idea of home is not to fight to be accepted but to be earned automatically. He expresses his passion to change the discourse around immigration and naturalizing thus subverting the preconceived ideas about immigrants like him.
